Networking & Cosmetics Gala (June 27)

Join us on June 27th for a Networking & Cosmetics Gala at the Macy's in Monroeville Mall. 

Enjoy an evening of networking in a fun, social environment, complete with entertainment and special offers.
 

Event: Networking & Cosmetics Gala
Time: 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Date: June 27, 2013
Location: Macy's, Monroeville Mall, Monroeville, PA

Registration: $15 (Registrants will receive a $15 gift card to be used on the evening of the 27th.)

Register online here.

New Entrepreneurship Lending for Veterans

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has launched the SBA Veteran Pledge Initiative to help veterans become entrepreneur.

According to the SBA:

Often times, veterans face challenges in raising capital or have trouble receiving a conventional loan. With the support of SBA’s top 20 national lending partners, and approximately 100 additional regional and community lending partners across the United States, SBA expects to assist an additional 2,000 veterans obtain loans to start or expand small businesses by increasing lending by $475 million over the next five years. This equals a five percent increase above historic veteran lending activity by the SBA.

* * *

Veterans make up a large number of successful small business owners. Nine percent of small businesses are veteran-owned. These 2.45 million veteran-owned businesses employ more than 5 million individuals. In the private sector workforce, veterans are more likely than those with no active-duty military experience to be self-employed.

To learn more about all opportunities for veterans available through the SBA, visit www.sba.gov/veterans.

Pop City Features PowerLink

Check out this article in Pop City about how local mentoring programs, including PowerLink, are helping Pittsburgh-area women entrepreneurs grow their businesses. 

The article features Lee Ann Munger, PowerLink Director, talking about how the program seeks to help women-owned businesses reach and surpass the million-dollar mark: 

“If your intention is to keep it small, that’s great,” says Munger. “But if your goal is growth, we’re interested in programs that will drive that growth. About three percent of women-owned businesses in the nation have revenue over $1 million while 32% of Pittsburgh women-owned PowerLink companies surpassed $1million after engaging their board."

Read the full article here.

Pittsburgh Small Business Community Heroes Nominations

Nominate a small business community hero! 

Direct Energy and Pittsburgh Magazine have teamed up to honor local small business heroes.
Nominations close Sunday, May 19, 2013 for the first-ever Pittsburgh Small Business Community Heroes award program.

The Small Business Community Heroes award program is designed to recognize the significant efforts of small business owners of companies with fewer than 100 employees, whose voluntary contributions make their communities a better place to live.

The award consists of the following:

• $500 cash prize to the winner;
• $2,000 donation to the winner’s organization/cause of choice in their respective community; and 
• full page in the July issue of Pittsburgh Magazine.

Criteria: 

• The Small Business Community Heroes award is open to all residents of communities in the Pittsburgh Magazine market areas. 
• Individuals can either nominate themselves or be nominated by another individual or group. 
• Nominations should be no longer than 500 words and must detail the specific contributions the small business owner has made to improve the community through volunteer service.
• Deadline: Nominations must be submitted by Sunday, May 19, 2013 by 11:59 p.m. 

A selection committee from Direct Energy and Pittsburgh Magazine will review all submissions, and the winner will be announced in June. Complete rules, the official nomination form and all other information are available online at www.directenergy.com/heroes.

Winners' Circle Awards Luncheon (Last day to register!)

Today is the last day to register for this years Winners' Circle Awards Luncheon Reception.

The Westmoreland County Winners’ Circle is delighted to honor these award recipients:

• Athena Award®: Kathleen Sarniak, Chief Executive Officer, Jeannette Specialty Glass
• Seton Hill University Entrepreneurial Excellence Award: Jason Csukas, Branch Manager, First Niagara Bank
• Award for Community Service: Jennifer Miele, Vice President of Marketing, Excela Health
• YWCA Rising Star Award: Tiffany Jackson, Owner & Lead Photographer, TJZ Creations - Photography and Design

We hope you will join us for the Winners’ Circle Luncheon Reception on May 15, 2013, to honor their outstanding achievements. Register online before the end of Wednesday, May 8.